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Full-Court Press: Feds Go After Mendo Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on July 28, 2011 Growing

Photo: Ganja Farmer’s Emerald Triangle News

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

I love my job.

Every time I leave San Francisco for Mendocino like I did the other day, whether it’s for an interview like I had arranged or for snooping and sleuthing for an upcoming story, I get giddy. It brings out the Tom Sawyer in me.

I’m like that kid the movie, The Black Stallion, when during the climax of the big horse race he throws off his racing goggles and grabs Big Black’s mane like they are one. He rides the galloping horse like they did back on the island when it was just the two of them.

Infamous Sheriff Arpaio Targets New Medical Marijuana Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 10, 2011 Medical, News

Photo: ONE/MILLION

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio claims he “wanted to be prepared for criminals who believe that Proposition 203 will allow them to deal marijuana with impunity”

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, already infamous for his treatment of immigrants and prisoners, has now set his sights on Arizona’s new medical marijuana patients following the passage of Proposition 203 by voters last November.

Arpaio on Wednesday announced the formation of a special unit targeting people who violate the state laws, claiming he “wanted to be prepared for criminals who believe that Proposition 203 will allow them to deal marijuana with impunity,” reports Deborah Stocks at ABC 15.

The Sheriff is so far alone — other police agencies in Arizona are waiting for finalization of state Department of Health Services rules regulating medical marijuana before assigning resources to control abuses of the law, reports JJ Hensley at The Arizona Republic.

Marijuana Dispensaries Raided In Santa Clara County, California

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on December 10, 2010 Dispensaries, News

Photo: Maria J. Avila Lopez/San Jose Mercury News

Several law enforcement agencies from thoughout the South Bay Area raided MediLeaf dispensaries in Santa Clara County on Thursday.

Santa Clara County, California authorities have detained several people who they claim were involved in illegal cannabis sales and money laundering at MediLeaf medical marijuana dispensaries across the county.

More than 50 officers with the County Special Enforcement Team served search warrants and held several people Thursday following an eight-month investigation that police claimed “established probable cause” that illegal marijuana sales and money laundering took place at eight MediLeaf stores in the county, reports Action News reporter Felix Cortez at KSBW.

ACLU Sues Michigan Cities That Have Banned Medical Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on December 1, 2010 Medical, News

Graphic: WWJ

Saying the rights of patients are endangered, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan on Wednesday filed lawsuits against three metro Detroit communities that have passed ordinances banning medical marijuana.

The ACLU filed the suit against the cities of Livonia, Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills on behalf of a Birmingham couple who want to use medical marijuana in their home, take it to private clubs in Bloomfield Hills and grow it in the husband’s warehouse in Livonia, reports Bill Laitner of the Detroit Free Press.

The suit, filed on behalf of Linda and Robert Lott of Birmingham, alleges that the three cities have each adopted ordinances that effectively ban the couple and other patients from legally using medical marijuana as overwhelmingly approved by 63 percent of Michigan voters in 2008, reports RoNeisha Mullen of The Detroit News.

Michigan Cops Challenge State’s Medical Marijuana Law

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on November 4, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Daniel Mears/The Detroit News

Patient/activist Robert Redden shows his Michigan medical marijuana card outside Wednesday’s hearing.

In Michigan, anti-pot local law enforcement is challenging in court the state’s 2008 law, passed by 63 percent of the voters, that allows distribution of medical marijuana.

A probable cause hearing began Wednesday for nine Oakland County, Mich., residents charged in a case that began when they were arrested August 25. All of the defendants are free on bond. The accused were associated with Clinical Relief, a Ferndale marijuana dispensary, reports Doug Guthrie of The Detroit News.

A warehouse in Macomb County and two dispensaries in Waterford Township were also raided, leading to other arrests.

Michigan: Items Seized In Marijuana Bust Must Be Returned

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 15, 2010 Dispensaries, Medical

Photo: Michael P. McConnell/Oakland County Daily Tribune

Barbara Agro, office manager at the Clinical Relief medical marijuana dispensary in Ferndale, Michigan, talks on her cell phone outside the clinic on August 26, the day after police raided the facility and confiscated patient records, TVs, computers, a small amount of marijuana and even the business’s telephones.

A judge has ordered Oakland County prosecutors to provide copies of seized patient files and ID cards, and to return computer hard drives and other items to two defendants charged in the county’s largest-ever raid on medical marijuana dispensaries.

Attorneys representing the owners of Ferndale medical marijuana dispensary Clinical Relief, Nicholas Agro, 38, of Lake Orion, Mich., and Ryan Richmond, 33, of Royal Oak, Mich., argued Thursday for the return of the items, which were taken by narcotics officers with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers raided the business, along with another dispensary in Waterford Township and multiple homes on August 25, reports Jennifer Chambers of The Detroit News.

Hundreds Protest At Medical Marijuana Defendants’ Hearing

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on October 8, 2010 Medical, News

Photo: Charles V. Tines/The Detroit News

Chuck Ream of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association rallies supporters on Thursday.

Several hundred chanting demonstrators showed their support as 10 people appeared in court on Thursday on multiple charges of delivery of marijuana.

The 10 were among 16 Metro Detroit residents arrested August 25 across Oakland County and charged with violating Michigan’s medical marijuana act, reports Mike Martindale of The Detroit News. All are free on bond and facing charges in Bloomfield, Ferndale and Waterford district courts.

All were arrested and charged following raids and seizures by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Team at a Ferndale medical marijuana dispensary and a Waterford compassion club and its related dispensary.

Maine Still Struggling With New Medical Marijuana Rules

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 8, 2010 Dispensaries, Legislation, Medical

Photo: Bangor Metro

Maine’s efforts to provide approved patients with safe, legal access to medical marijuana continued Monday in the State House, where health officials are trying to fine-tune the rules and procedures. Two months ago, Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill into law that creates eight licensed medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state, along with a state registry of patients authorized to use and possess cannabis.

Some patients, however, say the registration fees required to enroll in the system are too expensive and the amounts allowed are too low, reports A.J. Higgins at The Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

Marijuana Legalization On November Ballot In Detroit

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on June 2, 2010 Legislation, News

Photo: Shawn Wilson

The movement to legalize marijuana in Detroit appears to be ready for a decision by voters in November after petitions were certified by the Detroit Elections Commission. The initiative would legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use.

The petitions were filed by the Coalition for a Safer Detroit last month with City Clerk Janice Winfrey. Backers said petitions to put the initiative before voters were certified May 19, reports Darren A. Nichols of The Detroit News.

“They met the proper number (of signatures) and we met all the legal standards,” said Tim Beck, a registered medical marijuana patient who filed the petitions.

Ohio Man Kills Himself After Son Rats Him Out For Marijuana

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on February 24, 2010 Growing, News

Photo: Portage County Jail

Robert Batsch: Another victim of the war on pot

Police said a 55-year-old man killed himself Tuesday after he and his wife were charged with child endangering in connection with growing marijuana.

Robert Batsch and his wife Pamela, 54, of Rootstown, Ohio, were arrested Monday on warrants of allowing a juvenile to live in their home where marijuana was being grown. Their son told school officials about the marijuana, which led to a police investigation, reports Michael Sangiacomo of Cleveland.com.

Pamela found Robert’s body with a .22 rifle in the woods behind their home about noon on Tuesday, according to Portage County Sheriff David Doak.

A spokesman for the Portage County Coroner said Batsch’s death would be declared a suicide.

Search Results: metro/ (30)